Police arrest Dele Farotimi over Afe Babalola’s alleged defamation petition
The police on Tuesday arrested a lawyer and political activist, Dele Farotimi, over a defamation petition by senior lawyer Afe Babalola.
Peoples Gazette understands that Mr Farotimi, whose fierce advocacy for citizens’ rights often pits him against the society’s powerful, was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday morning.
He was promptly transported to Ekiti, where Mr Babalola wields untrammeled influence as the largest private employer and businessman.
Mr Babalola did not immediately return a request seeking comments about Mr Farotimi’s arrest, which reportedly followed alleged defamatory statements by the activist.
Hours before his arrest, Mr Farotimi said in a statement online that he was being sought by the police on a warrant from Mr Babalola, and another separate complaint from Tony Elumelu of United Bank of Africa.
The petition from Mr Elumelu was not acted upon, a spokesperson said in a message to The Gazette, and the whisking of Mr Farotimi to Ekiti all but confirmed the police were prioritising the senior lawyer’s petition, a copy of which the police have yet to make available to The Gazette despite an initial request and a follow up.
Mr Farotimi’s arrest has elicited a flurry of criticism from fellow rights activists, including Deji Adeyanju and Inibehe Effiong, who expressed steep disappointment over police’s continued use of force to handle defamation complaints.
The Nigerian Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights to speech and a 2015 law that allowed criminal punishment for so-called cyberstalking, a catch-all for police crackdown on free speech, was repealed in 2023.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify that the police were acting on the petition from Mr Babalola in arresting Mr Farotimi. Not the petition from Mr Elumelu.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Olubadan lauds Tinubu on release of Oriire kidnap victims, urges rehabilitation
“As a follow-up to this development, the government must ensure that all communities bordering the National Park are fully secure,” he said.
Heading 1
Iran’s new supreme leader vows revenge over father’s assassination by U.S.-Israeli forces
“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” he said.
Heading 4
Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One story
The subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
Heading 2
Klopp agrees to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach
Nagelsmann resigned last week as the men’s national team coach following Germany’s shocking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Health
FG expands cancer funding, local drug production
“We are trying to domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into action in our clinics,” he said.
Heading 3
Remi Tinubu begs Asake, Davido, Burna Boy to come rescue poor Nigerians from hunger
The first lady stated that buying exotic cars is good, but noted that the singers can still establish foundations to assist the struggling population.
